Andrés Escobar

Escobar was a defender throughout his career. His jersey number was 2, and he was known by the nicknames "El Caballero del Fútbol" ("The Gentleman of Football") and "The Immortal Number 2". In his club career, he played for Colombian club Atlético Nacional and Swiss club Young Boys.

First spell at Atlético Nacional

He joined the youth team of Atlético Nacional in 1985 and would debut for the senior team in 1986. He finished as runner-up in the 1988 Primera A, and he helped Nacional to win the 1989 Copa Libertadores and the 1989 Copa Interamericana. He scored his first goal for Nacional during the 2–1 victory against Deportivo Quito during the Copa Libertadores group stage on 13 March 1989.

Young Boys

Escobar joined 1. Liga club Young Boys on a six-month deal in January 1990 and he made his debut on 25 February 1990 during the 1–1 draw against St. Gallen. He left the club on 20 August 1990 after playing only eight matches.

Return to Atlético Nacional

He rejoined Atlético Nacional in late August 1990. He won his only Primera A title in 1991, finishing runner-up again in 1990 and 1992. Prior to the 1994 World Cup, Escobar was reported to have been offered a contract by AC Milan.

He made his debut for the Colombia national team on 30 March 1988, in a 3–0 win against Canada. His first appearance in an international competition took place at the 1988 Rous Cup, where he also scored the only goal of his career in a 1–1 draw against England. He played four matches at the 1989 Copa América when he was 22 years old. The team was eliminated in the first round of the tournament. The same year, he also played in 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. The team finished as winners of Group 2, though had to enter the inter-confederation play-offs, where they beat Israel 1–0 on aggregate and qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, after an absence of 28 years of the tournament (since 1962). Escobar played in all of his country's matches during the World Cup as they reached the round of 16, being eliminated after a 2–1 loss to Cameroon. Escobar was called up for the 1991 Copa América squad, where he made seven appearances. He did not participate in any games of the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification, but he was called up for the World Cup.

Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga was born in Medellín on 13 March 1967. He grew up in a middle-class family. He attended Colegio Calasanz and graduated from Instituto Conrado González. He participated in school football teams before becoming a professional football player. His father was Darío Escobar, a banker who founded an organization that gives young people the opportunity to play football instead of being on the streets. His brother, Santiago, is a former footballer who played alongside Andrés at Atlético Nacional before moving into team management in 1998.

Escobar worked to promote a positive image of Colombia and is prided by his country as a result. He received widespread admiration throughout the world for his exemplary character and conduct. Escobar embodied sportsmanship and integrity, which earned him the nickname "El Caballero del Fútbol." Escobar is routinely honored, and is especially mourned by Colombian Atlético Nacional fans. In a newspaper column published shortly before his killing, he said of Colombia's World Cup, "It’s been a most amazing and rare experience. We’ll see each other again soon because life does not end here." After Escobar's death, his family founded the Andrés Escobar Project to help disadvantaged children learn to play football. Prior to the 2001 Copa América hosted by Colombia, the city of Medellín unveiled a statue of Escobar. In 2001, Medellín unveiled another statue of Escobar. It was created by sculpture Alejandro Hernandez, commissioned by the Alcaldia de Medellín. The statue is located at a large, community sports complex named in Escobar's honor: Unidad Deportiva de Belén Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga.